WEDNESDAY, NOV.7, 2001
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A
Students discuss media's role
By J.R. Mendoza
Kansan staff writer
The portrayal of women and minorities in the media can be a challenging task.
About 45 people attended a discussion last night in the Kansas Union about the media, "Making the Headlines: The Difference Between Being in the News and Telling One's Own Story."
Four panelists participated in the discussion, which was sponsored by The Multicultural Resource Center, Office of Multicultural Affairs and the University of Kansas Coalition Against Racism and Discrimination. The event was part of the 2001-2002 Diversity Dialogue Series.
Panelist Corrina Beck passed around a copy of a fashion spread from Cosmopolitan magazine called "I Spy Sexy." It featured women changing into lingerie as someone spied them through a window.
Beck, the sexual assault prevention/education coordinator for the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center, said the advertisement dehumanized woman and might lead to violence.
"It's glorification of voyeurism," she said. "It's a really dangerous concept. But sex still sells. Women are buying into this."
Some women in the audience, however, said they didn't see a problem with the layout.
Amber Byarlay, Salina sophomore, said it surprised her that several women stood up for the advertising spread.
"It's kind of disturbing to see pictures of people from someone looking through a window," she said. "But it's important to realize there are different view points."
points.
Byarlay said she attended the dialogue because she was interested in how advertising affects people.
people. Another topic discussed by the panelists was the handling of an article written last spring about a fight during the Black Student Union-sponsored Big 12 Conference on Black Student Government.
Panelist Courtney Bates
Chicago junior and president of the KU chapter of the National Council of Negro Women, said more students of color needed to work for the Kansan. Bates gave the media a poor grade in covering issues about minorities.
Panelist Leita Schultes, managing editor for the Kansan and Rolfe, Iowa, junior, said the Kansan was trying to improve diversity in the newsroom and in its coverage.
its coverage. "There's an uphill battle to increase diversity and trying to present the news in the right light," Schultes said.
Contact Mendoza at 864-4810
Legal advice available for tenants
By Jeremy Clarkson Kansan staff writer
When Alex Binci moved last August into his apartment at Sunrise Place, 837 Michigan St., he found holes in the furnace pipes and broken window blinds.
"I opened them up and they just fell off," said Binci, Naples, Italy, junior, about the blinds.
binds.
He said he made a list of the problems during his inspection, and management eventually addressed his concerns. He later noticed that when it rained, the basement leaked.
Bincel got so frustrated, he asked the manager to sign a request so repairs could be made.
made.
"Three days later, it was attempted to be fixed." he said.
Binci said that although the repairs helped the leak, he was forced to continually ask management to fix the problem.
Management at Sunrise Place would not comment on how it deals with tenant concerns.
Jo Hardesty, director and managing attorney of KU Legal Services, said the biggest issues brought on by students and landlords were security deposits and maintenance issues.
Tenants are concerned with conditions
in the dwelling unit that are hazardous to their health and safety," she said.
Hardesty said students often came to legal services because of small maintenance issues or one major issue. She said one reason students had faced problems with their landlords was because many students had no previous renting experience.
"They may just not know what their rights are," she said.
Students should thoroughly read their leases so they understand what the obligations are between themselves and their landlords, Hardesty said.
lords, Hardesty said.
She said students concerned about their rights were encouraged to look at the Kansas Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, which specifies the duties and obligations of landlords and what procedures need to be followed.
Hardesty said students should contact the housing inspector to view the premises if they had issues concerning safety of the apartment or housing code violations.
Students concerned about their apartment complex or landlord can set up a free appointment with KU Legal Services by calling 864-5665 or visiting 148 Burge Union.
Landlord's duties in Kansas
- Comply with the requirements of applicable building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety.
Exercise reasonable care in the maintenance of common areas.
Maintain in good and safe working order and condition all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
The landlord may enter the residence, but only during a "reasonable" hour, and tenants are allowed reasonable notice unless an emergency has occurred.
The landlord cannot lock out a tenant or diminish services because of nonpayment of rent without obtaining a court-ordered eviction.
Further information of the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act can be found at http://www.hcci
ks.org/tenant%20resources.htm
Contact Clarkson at 864-4810
Course retake policy debated further
By Paul Smith Kansan staff writer
The Senate Executive Committee tabled a resolution drafted yesterday after its language resulted in confusion about how the course retake policy would be implemented next semester.
next session.
The resolution was drafted last week to clarify implementation of the course retake policy at professional schools, but yesterday's SenEx meeting failed to answer concerns that individual professional schools could reject students because they had used the course retake policy.
The policy, approved by Chancellor Robert Hemenway last summer, would allow students to retake any class beginning next semester in which they receive a D or F in order to boost their grade point averages. The original grades will remain on the transcript.
SenEx decided a representative from the provost's office needed to provide them with direction.
direction. "I feel thoroughly confused," said Michael Roessler, graduate student representative to SenEx.
The resolution reads: "It is the sense of the University Council that the course retake policy as outlined...is not intended to limit the faculties of the several schools in determining standards for admission."
darius for admissions
Tom Beeisecker, president of the University Council and exofficio SenEx member, warned yesterday that if SenEx wrote an ambiguous resolution of its own
The resolution language concerns student advocates like Pam Houston, director of undergraduate services for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. At yesterday's meeting, she disputed the claim that professional schools could set admissions standards that would, in essence, ignore the policy.
to clarify the policy, that the University Council may actually rescind the course retake policy entirely.
policy. "There have to be some University-wide policies," Houston said, "and I think the course retake policy should be one of them."
then. After re-examining the University Senate Rules and Regulations, SenEx could not conclude whether professional schools
Beisecker was frustrated by the debate.
have autonomy in their admissions policies.
Because further deliberation regarding the resolution is on the SenEx agenda next week, the policy in general will not be discussed at the University Council meeting tomorrow.
Lloyd Sponholtz, chair of SenEx, said once SenEx takes action on the resolution, a special session of the University Council would be called in December to discuss the SenEx proposal.
the debate. "This whole discussion seems to be predicated on a notion of bad faith from the professional schools," Beisecker said.
Contact Smith at 864-4810
JAMIF ROPER/KANSAN
The Starbucks stop here. Starbucks chose its 647 Massachusetts location in part because of its corporate neighbors. It will be the eighth downtown coffee shop.
Starbucks' opening spurs mixed feelings in town
By Sarah Finks and Kelley Weiss Special to the Kansan
Special to the Kansan
Starbucks Corporation will open its first free-standing store in Lawrence at 647 Massachusetts street in December, amid some apprehension and much attention.
Starbucks will join the coffee shop craze on Massachusetts St. as the eighth store in six blocks. The 1,700-square-foot store that will feature both indoor and outdoor seating.
Adam Robinson, manager of Henry's coffee shop and bar at 11 E. 10th, said it was hard for him to believe that the Chamber of Commerce thought Starbucks would benefit the downtown community.
"I really would have liked to have seen more done to keep them out," said Robinson, "not to negate the free market prospect, but to emphasize the community in downtown Lawrence," Robinson said. "They put seven coffee shops downtown at jeopardy by them coming to town."
Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Bill Sepic said that corporate businesses like Starbucks added to the community.
bucks added to this market." "Unless you want to be all antique stores, bars and coffee shops, you need entrepreneur drivers," Sepic said. "You need stores like Weavers and Easton's, but also national destination drivers to provide diversity."
Downtown Lawrence, Inc. exists for the preservation of
downtown Lawrence. One hundred and eighty business owners pay dues for activities sponsored by the organization, like economic development studies, recruiting new businesses, and downtown beautification.
The organization also builds relationships with property owners because the property owners have the final say whether a business moves in or not.
The city does not have any control over which companies move to Lawrence or where they should go as long as the companies comply to zoning laws.
Tim Fritzel is part owner of GCB Holdings, the landlord of the future Starbucks site. He said few people opposed the opening of the store.
"I've heard 15 or 20 people say they don't want it to come here." Fritzel said. "That's probably the same people who sat in the middle of the street on couches."
Haylee Nair, Vinita, Okla., junior, said she thought it was "disgusting" Sturbuccs would move into the same block as two local coffee shops.
concerns Starbucks district manager Stacy Elwell-Chalmers, a fifth-generation KU graduate, said the company was looking forward to becoming involved in the Lawrence community, like they were in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Contact Finks and Weiss at 864-4810
To Conduct Field Research, Some Faculty Go Incognito
Lewis Lindsay Dyche didn't collect bees. But on occasion he did use nature's disguise to collect North American mammals.His preserved specimens form the core of the world's largest wildlife diorama at KU's Museum of Natural History.
Dyche's achievements helped set scientific standards for the University more than a century ago.And KU's notable work has continued since then.Now Chancellor Hemenway proposes that KU build on its enviable record to become a national leader in scien
ku first
KU First seeks to raise $500 million by 2004, $45 million of which will support the natural sciences. A new biodiversity research center will enhance research programs and provide display space for the Museum's recent spectacular discovery of three Camarasaurus dinosaurs.And a new undergraduate natural-sciences laboratory at the heart of campus will promote research and teamwork in biology, chemistry, geology, physics and astronomy.
So that you and your successors have a chance to follow in the footsteps of old Lewis Lindsay Dyche and that guy in the bee suit.
KANSAS UNIVERSITY ENDOWMENT
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